During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:

By 67 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. 48), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. Pages S1347–48

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, post-cloture, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. Page S1398

Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:

By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. EX. 49), Terry A. Doughty, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. Pages S1348, S1404

Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:

Lisa Porter, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.

Patrick Fuchs, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board for the term of five years.

Michelle A. Schultz, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board for the term of five years.

James Edward Campos, of Nevada, to be Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy.

Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--49)Page S1348

Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:06 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1398.

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1 nomination in the Army, and the nomination of Brent K. Park, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration.

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower concluded a hearing to examine Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2019 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Vice Admiral Paul A. Grosklags, USN, Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder, USMC, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, and Rear Admiral Scott D. Conn, USN, Director, Air Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N98), all of the Department of Defense.

NOMINATION

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of James Reilly, of Colorado, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Gardner, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.

H.R. 4986, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations for the Federal Communications Commission, to provide for certain procedural changes to the rules of the Commission to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–587, Part 1);

H.R. 1116, to require the Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies to take risk profiles and business models of institutions into account when taking regulatory actions, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–588); and

H.R. 4545, to amend the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to improve the examination of depository institutions, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–589).Page H1440

Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Harper to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.Page H1375

Recess: The House recessed at 10:38 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon.Page H1379

Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of those who have been killed or wounded in service to our country and all those who serve and their families.Page H1379

Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act: H.R. 2226, amended, to amend the Truth in Lending Act to provide a safe harbor from certain requirements related to qualified mortgages for residential mortgage loans held on an originating depository institution's portfolio;Pages H1389–93

National Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal Organizations Act: H.R. 4768, amended, to require the President to develop a national strategy to combat the financial networks of transnational organized criminals;Pages H1395–98

Federal Communications Commission Reauthorization Act of 2018: H.R. 4986, amended, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations for the Federal Communications Commission, to provide for certain procedural changes to the rules of the Commission to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking;Pages H1398–S1414

Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations for the Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes'';Page H1414

Political Appointee Burrowing Prevention Act: H.R. 1132, amended, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for a 2-year prohibition on employment in a career civil service position for any former political appointee;Pages H1414–16

Social Media Use in Clearance Investigations Act: H.R. 3737, to provide for a study on the use of social media in security clearance investigations;Pages H1416–17

Eliminating Government-funded Oil-painting Act: S. 188, amended, to prohibit the use of Federal funds for the costs of painting portraits of officers and employees of the Federal Government;Pages H1418–19

Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the use of Federal funds for the costs of painting portraits of officers and employees of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.''.Page H1419

Rejected the Clark (MA) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Financial Services with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 182 yeas to 228 nays, Roll No. 94.Pages H1419–20

Pursuant to the Rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115–61, modified by the amendment printed in part B of H. Rept. 115–582, shall be considered as adopted.Page H1382

Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Demings wherein she resigned from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.Page H1421

Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 764, electing Members to a certain standing committee of the House of Representatives.Page H1421

Quorum--Calls Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H1419–20 and H1420–21. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:01 p.m.

Committee Meetings

APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department of Labor. Testimony was heard from Alexander Acosta, Secretary, Department of Labor.

APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a budget hearing on the Department of the Treasury. Testimony was heard from Steven Mnuchin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury.

Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activities in Africa''. Testimony was heard from General Thomas D. Waldhauser, Commander, U.S. Africa Command.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FY 2019 BUDGET REQUEST FOR SEAPOWER AND PROJECTION FORCES

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces held a hearing entitled ``Department of the Navy FY 2019 Budget Request for Seapower and Projection Forces''. Testimony was heard from James F. Geurts, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development and Acquisition, U.S. Navy; Vice Admiral William R. Merz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems, U.S. Navy; and Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, U.S. Marine Corps.

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled ``Strengthening Welfare to Work With Child Care''. Testimony was heard from Laurie J. Smith, Senior Policy Advisor, Education and Workforce Development, Office of Governor Phil Bryant, Mississippi; and public witnesses.

OVERSIGHT OF THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration''. Testimony was heard from David Redl, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department of Commerce.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a business meeting to consider the Committee's Views and Estimates on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. The Committee's Views and Estimates were adopted, as amended.

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice held a hearing entitled ``Examining Class Action Lawsuits Against Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID)''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

EXPLORING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR'S MAINTENANCE BACKLOG

Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Exploring Innovative Solutions to Reduce the Department of the Interior's Maintenance Backlog''. Testimony was heard from P. Daniel Smith, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Steve Guertin, Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.

EXAMINING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy, and Environment held a hearing entitled ``Examining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers''. Testimony was heard from James C. Dalton, Director of Civil Works, Army Corps of Engineers; Sean Strawbridge, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Corpus Christi Authority; and public witnesses.

THE FUTURE OF U.S. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``The Future of U.S. Fusion Energy Research''. Testimony was heard from James W. Van Dam, Acting Associate Director, Fusion Energy Sciences, Office of Science, Department of Energy; Mark Herrmann, Director, National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and public witnesses.

DISCONNECTED: RURAL BROADBAND AND THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SMALL CARRIERS

Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Health and Technology; and Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade held a joint hearing entitled ``Disconnected: Rural Broadband and the Business Case for Small Carriers''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Administration's Infrastructure Proposal''. Testimony was heard from Elaine Chao, Secretary, Department of Transportation.

Joint Meetings

VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' to examine the legislative presentation of multiple veterans service organizations, after receiving testimony from David Zurfluh, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Tacoma, Washington; Marion Polk, American Veterans (AMVETS), and Vincent W. Patton III, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America, both of Alexandria, Virginia; John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Middle Village, New York; Charles A. Susino, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Metuchen, New Jersey; Melissa Bryant, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and Rene C. Bardorf, Wounded Warrior Project, both of Washington, D.C.; Rear Admiral Christopher Cole, USN (Ret.), Association of the United States Navy, Vienna, Virginia; and Roy Robinson, National Guard Association of the United States, Meridian, Mississippi.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY,

MARCH 7, 2018

(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)

Senate

Committee on the Budget: to hold hearings to examine Department of Defense audit and business operations reform at the Pentagon, 10:30 a.m., SD–608.

Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Joseph E. Macmanus, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, Marie Royce, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary (Educational and Cultural Affairs), Robin S. Bernstein, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, and Edward Charles Prado, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Argentine Republic, all of the Department of State, 2:30 p.m., SD–419.

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: business meeting to consider the nominations of John F. Ring, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, Frank T. Brogan, of Pennsylvania, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, and Mark Schneider, of the District of Columbia, to be Director of the Institute of Education Science, both of the Department of Education, Marco M. Rajkovich, Jr., of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, and other pending nominations, Time to be announced, Room to be announced.

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to continue a business meeting to consider H.R. 2825, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security, 10 a.m., SD–342.

Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of John B. Nalbandian, of Kentucky, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, Kari A. Dooley, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, Dominic W. Lanza, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, Jill Aiko Otake, to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii, and Joseph H. Hunt, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, 10 a.m., SD–226.

Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, to hold hearings to examine small business bankruptcy, focusing on assessing the system, 2:30 p.m., SD–226.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: to hold a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 10 a.m., SD–G50.

Committee on House Administration, Full Committee, business meeting on Committee Resolution 115–9, to allocate funds from the Committee reserve fund, 1 p.m., 1310 Longworth.

Committee on the Judiciary, Full Committee, markup on H.R. 2152, the ``Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2017'', 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.

Committee on Natural Resources, Full Committee, markup on H.R. 520, the ``National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act''; H.R. 4731, to extend the retained use estate for the Caneel Bay resort in St. John, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes; and H.R. 5133, the ``Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reauthorization of 2018'', 10:15 a.m., 1324 Longworth.

Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, hearing entitled ``Lacking a Leader: Challenges Facing the SSA after over 5 Years of Acting Commissioners'', 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth.

Joint Meetings

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to hold a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 10 a.m., SD–G50.

Program for Wednesday: Senate will continue consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2155, Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, post-cloture.

Next Meeting of the

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

10 a.m., Wednesday, March 7

House Chamber

Program for Wednesday: Consideration of H.R. 1917--Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act (Subject to a Rule). Begin consideration of H.R. 1119--Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment Act (Subject to a Rule).